Kiss & Sell (16 page)

I watched, slightly slack-jawed, as Big Johnson shook Ryder’s hand before they both sat down in their respective seats. Losing my breath for a second, I studied my dream crush as he elegantly lowered himself into the chair beside me. He continued to smile as the crowd screamed for him uncontrollably. I, however, was too busy trying not to drool to join in. Instead, I stared, as non-stalkery as I could, memorizing the smell of Ryder’s cologne as it hit my nostrils.

When the crowd finally died down, Ryder turned his back to me and faced the host, as if he wasn’t fazed at all by the fact that half the audience probably wanted to rip his clothes off.

Or maybe that was just me.

“Ryder, thanks for coming by,” Big Johnson started.

“It’s great to be here,” Ryder said, coolly.

I felt myself unconsciously leaning toward Ryder to catch every word he said.

“Geez, I’ve never heard an audience go that crazy over a guest before. Do you always get that kind of response from people?”

Ryder smiled sheepishly as he looked down at his lap. He opened and closed his hands as he nodded lightly. “Not always like that, but yeah, it’s sort of hard for me to go anywhere lately without a crowd following me.”

“I read last week, that you were actually
mobbed
by a dozen private school girls while shopping downtown and the cops had to be called to get you out of there safely,” Big Johnson said. “Now, I always knew teenage girls were dangerous, but
That’s
ridiculous.”

Ryder laughed right along with Big Johnson as he chuckled at his own cleverness. I laughed too, but only because of nerves. The truth was, Ryder was the most beautiful guy I’d ever seen and sitting next to him was quickly turning me into a blithering idiot.

I studied his face as he looked around the room, taking note of his super-long eyelashes, bright green eyes, soft blond hair and sharp cheekbones. He wasn’t exactly skinny, but he wasn’t uber buff either. The pair of fitted jeans he wore were the perfect compliment to his blindingly white button down shirt and sparkling pair of Keds. A black skinny tie hung loosely around his neck as if it were an afterthought, a last-minute accessory that pulled the whole look together.

“Aw, well, my fans are great, but sometimes things can get a little…
crazy
,” Ryder said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“What’s the craziest thing a fan’s ever done?” Big Johnson prompted.

Ryder scrunched up his face as he searched for an answer. Finally, he began to laugh, suddenly looking embarrassed.

“One girl hid in my hotel closet for fourteen hours until I came home from a shoot,” He recalled. “I found her asleep on the floor wrapped up in a pile of my clothes. When I asked her to leave, she told me that she wouldn’t unless she got a kiss from me.”

“What did you do?”

The whole audience, including myself, were hanging on his every word. As much as I didn’t want to hear about my crush kissing other girls, I couldn’t pull my attention away.

“I kissed her,” Ryder said, with a shrug.

We all let out the collective breath we’d been holding in anticipation of his answer, and then people started to laugh and some even cheered, as if he’d cured cancer and not just lip-locked with girl.

“Hey, that doesn’t sound all that bad,” Big Johnson teased him.

“Yeah, but then she stole my favorite hoodie.”

The whole room erupted in synchronized, “Awwww”s, as everyone sympathized with him. I, on the other hand, was sort of jealous of the super-fan’s moxie.

“Speaking of kisses, did you hear Arielle’s story? She’s actually selling her first kiss on
eBay
,” Big Johnson said, gesturing in my direction. “What do you think about that?”

For the first time since Ryder had come out, he turned to face me straight on. We locked eyes, and I swear I felt electricity, fireworks,
love
. And then he smiled at me and my whole world dropped out from underneath me.

“Yeah, I was watching from backstage. That’s pretty intense,” He said, not breaking our gaze. “I couldn’t have
paid
someone to kiss me back when I was your age.”

Ryder continued to stare at me, which surprisingly, made me uncomfortable. Like staring straight into the sun. Feeling my mouth start to twitch from all the smiling, I forced myself to look over at the audience. Then I giggled along with them, nervously.

“Hey, now
here’s
an idea,” Big Johnson said, as if the words were just coming to him instead of from the teleprompter. “How about
you
give Arielle that kiss she wants so badly and we’ll all call it a day.”

What the—

Within seconds, the room had erupted into pandemonium. I couldn’t tell whether people were excited by the idea of Ryder being my first kiss, or if they were outraged that they wouldn’t be cozying up to the star themselves. Either way, I was too busy panicking to care.

Don’t get me wrong, getting a kiss—make that my first kiss
ever
—from Ryder Diggs, would be beyond wild. But having that kiss on live TV? In front of millions
of people? What if I was a terrible kisser? That would be horrifying in its own right, but to have the whole world witness my ineptitude? I’m not sure my fragile ego could handle it.

And it wasn’t like I could say, “Sorry, Ryder. Can I take a raincheck on that kiss?” Well, I could, but then I’d forever be known as “The Dumbest Girl alive,” and I didn’t exactly want that to be my legacy.

“I have to admit, it’s
Tempting
,” Ryder answered, turning to look at me again, this time checking me out. “But I really
do
prefer to get to know a girl before I kiss her.”

The audience laughed and I joined in nervously.

On the one hand, I was grateful that Ryder had gotten us out of a very public, and potentially embarrassing, display of affection. In fact, he’d said the exact right thing. However, I couldn’t help but feel a tad disappointed that Ryder
didn’t
go for it.

As I tried to decide if I should slink offstage while the camera was on Ryder because I’d just been rejected in front of the whole world, the Hollywood heartthrob gave me a funny look.

Good, God, you don’t have to spell it out. I get it. You don’t want to kiss the weird eBay girl. Can we move on before I spontaneously combust?

“But I’ll tell you what…let’s talk after this, and we’ll see where it goes,” Ryder said, suddenly flirty.

And then he winked at me.

I blinked back at him, wondering if everyone else had seen what had just happened or if I’d passed out and dreamed the whole thing. As whistles filled the air, I felt a wave of lightheadedness hit me and I had to pull my eyes away from his to stop the room from spinning.

Had Ryder Diggs just said that? In front of everyone? He’d said we should talk…did that mean he wants my number? And if he wants my number, did that mean he wants to ask me out?

I wasn’t sure I could date a celebrity. I’d seen how the paparazzi followed famous couples around, trying to catch them when they were looking all scrubby in their sweats. And the rumors that always got started? It was no wonder why so many Hollywood relationships ended, what with all the different magazines reporting false information on a couple’s status.

When I looked up after steadying myself, I saw that Big Johnson and Ryder were both staring at me, waiting for a response. I turned to the camera blankly. What the heck was I supposed to say to that?

Holy crap, Arielle, just say
something
!

“I’m game if you are,” I said finally, surprising even myself.

“Well, there you have it. Once again, history has been made on
You Snooze, You Lose
!” Big Johnson yelled out to the camera.

Once the hysteria died down again, he continued. “But, let’s get back to your show, Ryder.
Night Light
just began its second season and you play a vampire, right? But you’re a good vampire? What exactly does that mean? Are you like, a vegetarian or something?”

“Actually, my character still drinks blood, but it’s strictly animal blood….”Ryder explained, taking the subject change in stride.

With the spotlight finally off of me, I found myself able to breathe again. My heart started to slow to a semi-normal pace and I was officially able to sit back and enjoy the whole experience. I listened to the two banter back and forth like the interview was a tennis match, proving they were both pros at the talk show game. A few minutes later, the music signaled the end of our segment.

“Let’s thank Arielle and Ryder for being on the show tonight,” Big Johnson said, clapping from behind his desk. “And tune in tomorrow when our guest stars will be Kirsten Bell and the Jonas Brothers.”

We all smiled as the camera took one last sweep across the stage, and then I tried to listen in as Big Johnson and Ryder talked in hushed tones just below the music. Then the lights shut off and the audience members were standing up in their seats.

It was over.

I rised along with everyone else, tugging down on my shirt awkwardly, not quite sure what to do next. Was I supposed to say goodbye to Ryder before heading back to my dressing room? Or was that too cheesy? What if I just played it cool and said nothing, leading him to think I was this totally mysterious girl who he just
had
to get to know better. Forget the fact that he was three years older than me and completely out of my league.

Instead, I just watched as my celebri-honey walked over to the audience and began signing autographs and taking pictures with the gaggles of teenage girls—and a few middle aged women—who had stuck around just to meet him.

I found myself swooning as Ryder reached up into the stands to hug a little girl who was on the verge of a meltdown. She was wearing a T-shirt embossed with a picture of Ryder as his vampire alter ego and was periodically using it to wipe at her eyes. As Ryder pulled her into his arms, she started sobbing, all the while telling him how much she loved him.

Ryder held onto the girl until she calmed down, and then took a few pictures with her before turning away to leave. I still hadn’t moved from my spot, but now began to hastily gather my things as he headed my way.

Pivoting around, I tried to search for an escape that would lead me back to where my mom and McCartney were waiting for me, but lost my footing and smacked right into Ryder.

Literally.

My face slammed into his chest, and then I stepped down hard on his foot, letting out a little screech of surprise as it happened.

“Omigod, I’m
so
sorry!” I apologized. Awkwardly patting his chest, I briefly worried that I’d bruised him with my big head. “I’m seriously the clumsiest person ever. I mean it. Look up ‘clumsy’ in the dictionary and I bet it will say, sawyer comma Arielle. See why I have to do the eBay thing?”

Ryder started to laugh as I rattled on nervously, still standing close enough for me touch him. Not that I did…again, anyway. He cocked his head to the side, eyes shining as he studied me the way you might a peculiar animal at the zoo. Like you’re curious, but also glad that there are metal bars separating you and the freaky beast.

“You’re a funny girl,” He said finally. “And no. I don’t see why you have to do the eBay thing. Have you even
Tried
getting a kiss the old fashioned way?”

Although I adored the compliment, I was simultaneously offended that he would think that I hadn’t tried absolutely everything I could to
not
have to sell my kiss to the highest bidder. This was more of a last resort solution to my problem.

“Not all of us are
gorgeous
superstars who have people sneaking into our rooms just to get a kiss,” I said, playfully. “Besides, correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t
you
technically get paid to kiss girls too? Your co-stars I mean? How is that any different than this?”

“Touché,” Ryder said, letting out another laugh. “But seriously, I hope you weren’t offended by what I said up there. It’s not that I
didn’t
want to kiss you. It’s
just—well, I remember my first kiss—and I wouldn’t have wanted half the world witnessing it while it was happening. And now, with the digital age…well, you could end up watching the awkwardness of your first time
forever
. Trust me, you don’t want to be haunted by your past on youtube.”

He had a point. Wait. Rewind. Had he just admitted that he would’ve kissed me? Because I was fine with that. In fact, we could still make that happen. There were no cameras on us anymore. Maybe if I just leaned in a little bit closer…

But just as I started to go for it, Ryder took a step backward. Shrugging to try and play off what I’d been trying to do, I said, “You’re probably right. It would’ve totally been weird. Besides, then the school wouldn’t have gotten the donation money. And you should see our gym. It’s more of a disaster area than a fitness center.”

“I really admire that,” Ryder said, folding his arms across his chest and nodding his head. “You know, I’m really big into charity work. I feel like it’s everyone’s duty to help out where they can. It’s so nice to find a young person who thinks of someone other than themselves for a change.”

I didn’t bother admitting that it was actually my mom’s idea to donate the money to the school. Nor did I point out that the only reason I was doing any of this at all, was because I wanted that kiss. If my focus had simply been on giving back to my school, I would’ve just helped out at a car wash like the band did each summer.

“Mmm-hmm,” I said, biting my tongue. “It’s important to give back.”

Not sure what else to say, I smiled at Ryder. And then he smiled back at me. And then we were just standing there, less than a foot away from each other, grinning like idiots. The thing was, I knew why
I
was smiling, but I had no idea what he was smiling about.

I
wish
I knew what he was smiling about.

“Ok. Well, it was great meeting you, Ryder,” I said, feeling like it was time to make my exit.

Smiling one last time, I forced myself to turn on my heel, and then headed toward the doorway I’d walked through earlier. But leaving was the last thing I wanted to do. I wondered if I’d just squandered the one chance I’d ever have to be that close to a celebrity.